Michigan lawmaker has been charged with seeking a bribe from a labor union in exchange for a favorable vote on a wage issue

LANSING, MICH. — A Michigan lawmaker charged with seeking to trade his vote for campaign contributions has been removed from his legislative committees, and his office has been taken over by nonpartisan staff.

Republican Rep. Larry Inman was charged Tuesday with attempted extortion, soliciting a bribe and lying to the FBI.

Republican House Speaker Lee Chatfield says he stripped Inman of his committee assignments and directed the House Business Office to take control of his office to ensure consistent services are available for people living in Inman's Traverse City-area district.

Chatfield says everyone in the House is "surprised and disappointed" by the news. He says there will be more to say "once we've been able to have a longer conversation" with Inman.

Inman is accused of seeking campaign contributions from a union in exchange for voting to keep the prevailing wage law. In the end, he voted with the majority to repeal it.